from Former Official Website

I am looking forward to playing in the new $254 million stadium named after Ashe. The USTA could have sold the naming rights to a corporate sponsor for several million dollars, but some things, however, are more important than money, like the name and legacy of Arthur Ashe.

During his twelve-year career, Ashe became the first Afro-American to capture the U.S. Open and Wimbledon titles. His work not only opened the game to urban youth, but to participants of every race worldwide.

All of the demanding work and hard-court preparations are almost over, and I'm ready to defend my U.S. Open title. I am getting acclimated to being in New York. The Big Apple has a unique atmosphere that gets my adrenaline pumping. The fans here are excited about the tennis, and since this was the site of my first major it is a special place to come back to. Each of the majors has a distinct personality, but the exciting, fast-paced atmosphere of New York affects all of the players.

My four-week break after Wimbledon was nice. A nagging arm injury forced me to take an additional week off, but I think the extra time was a blessing in disguise.

I was pleasantly surprised to see little rust when I arrived in Cincinnati, where I played the ATP Super 9 event. Usually after a long break it takes a few matches to get "match tough" again. I played very well all week and was happy to pick up the title. Whenever I have a successful match against quality players such as Gimelstob, Rafter, Kafelnikov, Costa and Muster, I feel a good sense of accomplishment.

Things didn't go as well last week in Indianapolis. After beating Josh Eagle in the first round, I lost a tough three-setter to Magnus Larsson. Although things didn't go as planned, that match will benefit me come time for the U.S. Open. These seven matches were great preparation, and to come home with a prestigious title in Cincinnati makes it all the better.

I spent a couple of days in Tampa, "topping off" my physical training, then continued with a solid week of practice in New York. I feel that I am playing very well and am ready to defend my U.S. Open title. But when I am in the new Arthur Ashe state-of-the-art facility and facing troubles against some of the best tennis players in the world, I know the work of one man will give me inspiration.

-----Pete Sampras